Store construction



J. W. KING.

STORE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 13 I920.

Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M INVENTOR.

" ATTORNEY.

J. W. KING.

' STORE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILELD NOV. 13, I920.

Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VEN TOR.

PATENT OFFICE.

JEWEL WARREN KING, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

sronn consrnuorronj Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Application filed November 13, 1920. Serial No. 423,906.

T 0 all whom "it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JEWEL WARREN KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store Constructions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. Q

This invention relates to certain improvements in a store construction and arrangement.

An important object of the invention is to provide a store wherein purchases may be made by patrons from vehicles without leaving the vehicle, as well as by patrons on foot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a store of this character wherein the maintenance and operation of the same is extremely simple.

The invention consists in a rotatable structure embodying shelves displaying merchandise and the like, a roadway for vehicles being formed about therotatable structure, which roadway is restricted adjacent its entrance and exit so that but a single vehicle may pass at one time, thereby assisting in checking ofthe patrons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, and

wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout Figure 1 is a sectional plan View of a store constructed in accordance with my invention, and.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fi 1.

eferring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a central pit or cellar in which is rotatably mounted the lower end of a vertical supporting and driving shaft 11. From this shaft extend horizontal, radially disposed supporting beams 12 to support a floor 13 at the approximate level of the ground surface. Beneath the floor adjacent the periphery thereof is disposed an annular track 14 concentric with shaft 11 and extending downwardly from the bottom of the floor are strips 15 in which are mounted supporting wheels'16 which engage the'track and assist in maintaining the position of the structure.

Above the floor at the periphery thereof are arranged vertically spaced annular shelves 17 which are inclined downwardly toward their outer edges and which are provided at such outer edges with a raised ledge 18 to prevent articles placed upon the shelf from falling therefrom. Above and below the shelves 1'? an annular partition 19 is provided inclosing the rotatable structure, the upper end of the partition being supported by suitable radial bracing extending outwardly from the vertical shelf 11. The shelves 17 are divided into compartments by the use of radial partitions 21, each compartment being adapted for the reception of a particular brand of merchandise. Within the rotatable structure upon the floor 13 are arranged storage shelves 22 for the storing of supplies of replenishing compartments formed upon the shelves l7.

Extending about the rotatable structure and in spaced relation thereto, I preferably provide a substantially circular outer wall 23 which is relatively stationary and which supports the outer edge of the roof 24 which is centrally supported by the rotatable shaft 11. as at 25.

The outer stationary wall 23 is provided with an entrance 26.

Intermediate the entrance 26 and the rotatable structure and adjacent the outer face of the rotatable structure, I provide a stationary counter 27 having arranged at the ends thereof a basket counter 28 and a cashiers counter 29. The basket and cash iers counter preferably extend beyond the outer face of the stationary counter 27 and are connected by a railing 30 provided adjacent the basket counter with an entrance gate 31 and adjacent the entrance with an exit gate 32.

It will be seen that foot patrons entering may pass through the entrance gate, receiving at the counter 28 a basket if they so desire, stand at the counter 27 and select their goods from the compartments of the store as they pass, and passing out of the exit gate 82 pay the cashier. At the sides of the entrance a curbing 33 is preferably provided, which curbing passes about the central rotatable structure in uniform. spaced relation thereto and likewise preferably in spaced relation to the outer stationary wall 23. If 'desired,-intermediate this outer curbing 33 and the stationary wall additional basket booths or counters may be provided.

An inner curbing 35 is provided having its ends adjacent the entrance spaced and directed toward the entrance to afford therebetween a pathway for foot patrons. This curbing then passes about the counter 28' and is at this point only sufficiently spaced from the curbing to permit the passage of a single vehicle. Beyond the counter 28, however, the curb 353 is curved inwardly, as. at 36, toward the periphery of the central rotatable structure and passes thereabout close to the periphery of the rotatable structure so that vehicles may be stationed adjacent the periphery of the structure and the occupants thereof may remove from the compartments while passing such articles as they desire. Adjacent the counter 29 the curb is again curved outwardly toward the curb 33,.as at 37, so that before the counter 29 there is but SlllllClGDlJ space between these curbs to permit the passage 0t but a single vehicle.

Preferably in operation, the vehicles entering will pass the basket counter 28 where they will receive a basket for containing thev goods and thence drive to the point adjacent the curve 35 where it parallels the outer surface ofthe inner rotatable structure and collect such goods from. the compartments as desired- When the goods are all collected, the vehicle may complete the circuit, passing any other vehicles which may be standing to collect goods and arriving at the cashiers desk, turning in the basket for checking of the contents thereof. At this desk the goods will be placed in a. sack, or other suitable receptacle, andreturned to the purchaser.

Entrance to the cellar or pit 10 is preferably had through means of an entrance door 38 arranged exteriorly of the inner rotatable member and connected to the cellar by a passage way 39. From the cellar access may be had to the interior of the central'rot-a-table structure by means of steps l0 and the doors formed in the floor 14.. The cellar or pit 10 will have arranged therein suitable driving mechanism 4L1 so that the periphery of the central rotatable structure may be caused to travel at very low rate of speed. If desired, this mechanism be provided with suitable stop mechanism arranged exteriorly of the central rotatable structure wherein the rotation may be intermittently checked.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that a store constructed in accordance with my invention provides means whereby patrons in vehicles may be served without leaving the vehicle, and likewise provides means whereby foot patrons may be served simultaneously; and it will likewise be obvious that the construction of the same as hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, do not limit myself to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth, except as so limited by the subjoined claims.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the type described, a central rotatable structure embodying annular shelves adapted for the reception of merchandise, a curbing encircling said rotatable structure. in spaced relation thereto, basket and cashiers booths arranged adjacent the periphery of the central rotatable structure and adjacent one another, a second curbing extending intermediate said booths and the first named curbing and adjacent the periphery of saictcentral rotatable structure, the space. intermediate said first and second curbings at points opposite said booths being restricted to permit the passage of but a single vehicle- I 2. In a device of' the type described, a central rotatable structure provided at its periphery with display compartments, an annular track formed about said central r0- tatable structure and provided with an entrance, said track being of suflicient'width to permit the passage. of one vehicle by an-' other, the ends of said track adjacent the entrance being restricted and permitting the passage of but a single vehicle.

3. A store of the type described embodying a central rotatable structure provided at its periphery with display compartments, a stationary counter arranged adjacent the periphery of said central rotatable structure, a counter arranged adjacent each end of the first named counter, a partition extending intermediate the last named counters and in spaced relation to the first named counter and provided adjacent each of the last named counters with a. one-way gate, an annular vehicle track formed about said rotatable structure and said counters, said track having portions thereof extending immediately adjacent the periphery of the central rotatable structure, said portions being of sutlicient width to permit the passage of one vehicle by another, the portions of said track adjacent said counters being restricted and permitting the passage of but asingle vehicle.

a. In a device of the, type described, a central rotatable structure embodying annular shelves adapted for the reception of merchandise, a curbing encircling said rotatable structure in spaced relation thereto, basket and cashiers booths arranged adjacent one another, asecond curbing extending intermediate said booths and the first named curbing and adjacent the periphery of said central rotatable structure, the space intermediate said first and second curbings at points opposite said booths being restricted to permit the passage of but a single vehicle and a roof for sald central rotatable structure embodying portions overhanging said curbings.

5. A store of the type described embodying a central rotatable structure provided at its periphery with display compartments, a stationary counter arranged adjacent the periphery of said central rotatable structure, a counter arranged adjacent each end of the first named counter, a partition extending intermediate the last named counters and in spaced relation to the first named counter and provided adjacent each of the last named counters with a one-Way gate, an annular vehicle track formed about said rotatable structure and said counters, said track having portions thereof extending immediately adjacent the periphery of the central rotatable structure, said portions being of sufficient Width to permit the passage of one vehicle by another, the portions of said track adjacent said counters being restricted and permitting the passage of but a single vehicle, a stationary outer Wall arranged in spaced relation to said vehicle track and provided with an opening composing the first named counter and a roof supported by said stationary outer Wall having its central portion supported by the upper end of said central rotatable structure.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JEWEL WARREN KING. 

